Editing Neriglissar (section)

== Background ==
=== Reign of Nebuchadnezzar ===
[[File:Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II.png|left|thumb|The [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]] under [[Nebuchadnezzar II]]]]
The [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]] reached the apex of its power during the reign of its second king, [[Nebuchadnezzar II]] ({{Reign}}605–562 BC). During his rule, the empire consolidated its territories and army and established its hegemony over territories that had once belonged to the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire]], defeated and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar's father [[Nabopolassar]] ({{Reign}}626–605 BC). Throughout his reign, Nebuchadnezzar spent much time and many resources on extensive building projects throughout [[Babylonia]], mostly focusing on his capital, [[Babylon]].{{Sfn|Mark|2018}} As the royal treasury became more and more strained under the weight of the expenditures, local businessmen would come to grow wealthier and, as a consequence, more influential in political matters.{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}}

According to Neriglissar's own inscriptions,{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} he was the son of a man by the name Bel-shum-ishkun{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}} (''Bêl-šum-iškun'').{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} This is probably the same person as Bel-shum-ishkun,{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} son of Nabu-epir-la'a{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}} (''Nabû-ēpir-la'î''), whose income is listed in a Babylonian economic document alongside the incomes of Nebuchadnezzar and one of the king's daughters, [[Kashshaya]]. Both Neriglissar and Bel-shum-ishkun are also listed in another royal document that records various officials of the empire, wherein Neriglissar is recorded as a [[Simmagir]] official and Bel-shum-ishkun is recorded as originating in the province Puqudu.{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} Both Neriglissar and his father might have been from the [[Arameans|Aramean]] clan of the [[Puqudu]] (same name as the province from which Bel-shum-ishkun originated).{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}}{{Sfn|Beaulieu|2016|p=4}}

Neriglissar was an active businessman and landowner during Nebuchadnezzar's reign. He is recorded as having purchased properties from a bankrupt man by the name Nabu-ahhe-iddina and from a wealthy banker by the name Iddina-Marduk, both in [[Sippar]].{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}} In addition to Sippar, Neriglissar also owned estates in [[Uruk]].{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} Due to his presence at Sippar, and due to him being recorded as present at [[Opis]] in 565/564 BC, it is possible that Neriglissar was involved in the construction of Nebuchadnezzar's [[Median Wall]], meant to protect Babylon from attacks from the north. In addition to being a wealthy landowner, Neriglissar was also one of Nebuchadnezzar's leading officials as a Simmagir. During Nebuchadnezzar's military campaigns, Neriglissar served as an officer of the rank ''rab māg''.{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}} He might be identical to a "Nergalšareṣer" which the [[Bible]] describes as present at Nebuchadnezzar's [[Siege of Jerusalem (597 BC)|siege of Jerusalem]] in 597 BC{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} ([[Jeremiah 39:13]]).{{Sfn|Lendering|2006|p=}} 

=== Rise to the throne ===
[[File:Portretten van de koningen Evil-Merodach en Neriglissar Van d'Assyrische monarchie (titel op object) Den Grooten Emblemata Sacra, bestaande in meer dan vier hondert bybelsche figuren, zoo des Ouden als des Nieuwen Test, RP-P-2015-10-136.jpg|thumb|17th-century portraits of Neriglissar ('Nerigolossor') and his predecessor [[Amel-Marduk]] ('Evilmerodach')]]
Neriglissar's influence was further increased through his marriage to one of Nebuchadnezzar's daughters.{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}} Historian [[David B. Weisberg]] proposed in 1974 that the daughter in question was Kashshaya, since her name appears together with the name of Nebuchadnezzar, Neriglissar and Bel-shum-ishkun in economic documents.{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} Although there is no concrete evidence that Kashshaya, instead of one of Nebuchadnezzar's other daughters, was the wife of Neriglissar,{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=200}} subsequent historians, such as [[Donald Wiseman]] and [[Jona Lendering]], have accepted the assumption that Neriglissar married Kashshaya.{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}}{{Sfn|Lendering|2006|p=}}

According to the later [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]]-era Babylonian writer and astronomer [[Berossus]],{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} Naboukhodonosoros (Nebuchadnezzar) died of sickness after a reign of 43 years and was succeeded by his son Euilmaradokhos ([[Amel-Marduk]]), who "ruled capriciously and had no regard for the laws". After ruling two years, Neriglassaros (Neriglissar) plotted against Amel-Marduk and had him deposed and killed.{{Sfn|Beaulieu|2006|p=139}} If Berossus is to be believed, Neriglissar was the leader of this conspiracy. It is likely that the conflict between Amel-Marduk and Neriglissar was a case of inter-family discord rather than some other form of rivalry.{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=242}} 

Neriglissar's marriage to Kashshaya (or another of Nebuchadnezzar's daughters) is probably what made usurping the throne possible. A factor which might have significantly improved Neriglissar's chances of becoming king was the position of Kashshaya relative to Nebuchadnezzar's other children. Kashshaya might have been the oldest of all of Nebuchadnezzar's children as she is attested as being active significantly earlier in his reign (5th year) than most of his sons (most attested in Nebuchadnezzar's 39th–41st years).{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=200}} Although the sons only being referenced this late could also be coincidental or accidental,{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=201}} the significant gap in time could even be interpreted as an indication that the sons were the product of a second marriage. It is thus possible that the usurpation was the result of infighting between an older, wealthier and more influential branch of the royal family (represented by Nebuchadnezzar's daughters, Kashshaya in particular) and a less well established and younger, though more legitimate, branch (represented by Nebuchadnezzar's sons, such as Amel-Marduk).{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=200}} Kashshaya is, like Neriglissar, attested as a wealthy landowner in Uruk during her father's reign.{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=198}}